Colorado Medical Marijuana Analytical Lab

[K.J]

This is awesome. Something I had pondered starting myself (though I don't have the experience you do, so good on ya!). I hope that eventually it's the FARMER's that have their garden's and each harvest certified by using these testing methods (and others that would be added to fully certify a garden/crop).

 

[veta]

Couple of quick thoughts.
pp69

Website

It is being built right now, the web designer says we should be up next week. It will be Full Spectrum Laboratories. The certification service name is still up in the air. They will be separate companies.

Again testing is only going to look at THC and CNB on individual samples at first. Certification will be done on crop/pound of material and do THC/CNB, % Water Weight, Mold/Fungus, Pesticide Screening. This will all come on a CoA. The certification service will label, securely package the product for shipping and long term storage. I should add that pesticide testing is very tricky as there are 1000's of ones to test for, we will have to work with growers to ensure a clean crop.


Tamper proof containers to drop off.

For pound qualities we are using tamper resistant vacuum bagging technology. If a grower wants we will also package smaller quantities down to an oz in tamper proof plastic containers. There are alot of options on packaging, it all depends how much a grower wants to invest certifying her crop.


Other means besides dropping at a disp.

We really want to use the community as are logistical network. We feel by engaging the community they will best figure out how to use the testing service. Also, we really don't want to operating a retail service, for many reason, but most come down to liability. What we are planing to do is offer testing a one price if people drop samples at the lab's drop box. We will also offer blocks of 20 and 40 tests at very significant discounts to dispensaries and to anyone who wants to act as a community assayer. They will be able to sell their service to community for a profit. So you can 1) use a dispensary that has signed up to be a assayer. 2) find a community member that is a assayer. 3) become one your self or 4) pay more and drop it right at the lab.

We are using this sales model because it will also further distance us from the person getting their material tested. All we will know about the person we are running the test for is their sample ID number, (unless you drop it at the lab, then we will know for CC #). This is really for our clients protection.


Some disp won't even let you in without signing them as a cg. I do my own but would like this service to reassure my patients, without dealing with a disp.

We see dispensaries offering a drop box, and online ordering of sample testing, so you will never have to go inside.

Roughly where will you be located.

In the heart of denver. Lab drop box will also be in denver with easy acess to highways. But this is also the reason to work with a assayer, as you will not have to worry about sample delivery.

Name of your company

Full Spectrum Laboratories.

I would be willing to drive to deliver sample to you.

great, i hope you will consider volume discounting

How large of a sample needed

Right now 500 mg for THC and CNB. Certification will require a trained person to take the sample, as it must be properly taken to ensure it is representative of the entire lot. Also, if we let growers pull their own samples they may try to skew the sample to get "better" numbers. The idea of certification is to begin to standardize product, so we need to have trained impartial people performing the service.

Turn around time to receive info back.

Lab turn around time will be 48H for THC/CNB. Certification will take 3-5 days.

That's all I can think of for right now.

keep it coming. Once the website is up, it will explain all of this better.

Thanks and good luck with your adventure.

Thanks...

 

[pikes peak 69]

Thanks for the answers.
Still trying to wrap my head around how much product someone needs to supply for you to get the sample.
I'll wait for the website and read all about it there.

pp69

 

[veta]

500 mg = 0.0176 oz its not very much. That's about 1/55th an oz.

 

[Mr. Hugeblunts]

Or half a gram. Similar to a bowl pack (a fat one).

 

[pikes peak 69]

I understand how much you need for a sample, I don't understand this quoted part about who takes sample off of how much product.
That's what has me confused.

Thanks
pp69

Website


How large of a sample needed

Right now 500 mg for THC and CNB. Certification will require a trained person to take the sample, as it must be properly taken to ensure it is representative of the entire lot. Also, if we let growers pull their own samples they may try to skew the sample to get "better" numbers. The idea of certification is to begin to standardize product, so we need to have trained impartial people performing the service.


Thanks...

 

[veta]

Woops...

So when I say "testing" this is JUST THC/CNB. Anyone can pull the sample, and we really want to have people utilize their local dispensary, assayer, who ever to handle collection, fee collection, and submition to the laboratory. A individual could bring it to the lab for THC/CNB analysis, but this will cost more.


Now "certification" will require a trained person to pull the sample from the product. They need to assure the sample represents the entire crop be it a single oz or pound or 100 pounds. Depending on the size of the crop to be certified multiple samples may have to be taken. For a 1 pound sample about 1-2 grams will have to be pulled. (again its not much, we just need to pull a number of very small samples from various buds in the pound to make sure that we get an "average" sample. There is surprising variation between plants and even buds in a single crop) The person taking the samples will also vacuum pack the crop to ensure it can not be tampered with after the samples are taken. (IE so a grower woun't pull a bait and switch) "Certifiers" are providing a wider range of activities than a "assayer". During certification the product never leaves the growers/dispensaries possession. The certifer will come to you.


To put it another way, any individual who wants to know whats the THC/CNB content of sample of marijuana, food product, ect can seek out any assayer they want.

A grower wanting to have their crop certified will contact the regional certifer.

 

[robbiedublu]

I see a business opportunity for someone in Denver, accepting samples via mail and getting them tested for people.

 

[pikes peak 69]

At this point I may bring a sample to test for my own curiousity but I see problems with this procedure. First security. Someone unknown must come to my location. Then they vacuum seal MY product. I want to store my product as I want to see fit.
I understand with new businesses there is always growing pains but this is still a touchy product to let anyone know too much about where and when so to speak.

I'll sit back and see how it goes for a while.

Thanks
pp69

Woops...

So when I say "testing" this is JUST THC/CNB. Anyone can pull the sample, and we really want to have people utilize their local dispensary, assayer, who ever to handle collection, fee collection, and submition to the laboratory. A individual could bring it to the lab for THC/CNB analysis, but this will cost more.


Now "certification" will require a trained person to pull the sample from the product. They need to assure the sample represents the entire crop be it a single oz or pound or 100 pounds. Depending on the size of the crop to be certified multiple samples may have to be taken. For a 1 pound sample about 1-2 grams will have to be pulled. (again its not much, we just need to pull a number of very small samples from various buds in the pound to make sure that we get an "average" sample. There is surprising variation between plants and even buds in a single crop) The person taking the samples will also vacuum pack the crop to ensure it can not be tampered with after the samples are taken. (IE so a grower woun't pull a bait and switch) "Certifiers" are providing a wider range of activities than a "assayer". During certification the product never leaves the growers/dispensaries possession. The certifer will come to you.


To put it another way, any individual who wants to know whats the THC/CNB content of sample of marijuana, food product, ect can seek out any assayer they want.

A grower wanting to have their crop certified will contact the regional certifer.

 

[veta]

For sure there will be people that are hesitant in the beginning. But if patients start to demand certified material, I think it will drive the process forward.

Certification is not going to be a one way street with the certifer tell the grower how everything should be done. It will be collaborative. The goal being to come to set a standard that anyone selling MMJ should have to meet. Your crop never leaves you hands. You will be right there while it is bagged and weighted. If you don't want to have the certifer come to your operation, a neutral location can be used.

We already have 2 pretty big growers signed up to get there whole crop certified. So expect to start seeing certified product out there soon.

 

[K.J]

As I said before Veta, this is exciting stuff. I'm so happy that someone who seems to have a good head about them is doing this in CO.

 

[BudGood]

To be honest, I'm not so worried about getting my whole crop certified, just want to get samples of each individual strain tested for THC and such. That'll be plenty for me, and more than most growers in this area would even bother to do anyhow. My patients will be surprised that I was able to have my strains tested I'm sure.

 

[Moldy Dreads]

The thing is, will people be able to make the right conclusions and such without knowing what chemicals are best for what and in what combinations..

I'd be more interested in knowing if dangerous chemicals or molds are present for sure..

 

[veta]

Well it’s been a couple months, just wanted to let everyone know we are up and running and testing 100's of samples a month. The response to the lab has been overwhelmingly positive.

Our website is www.fullspectrumlaboratories.com we offer testing to any patient in a MMJ legal state. I have to say that our methods are extremely helpful for all the manufactures of tinctures/oils/balms/food ect. We are testing many products and finding the majority only contain about 60% active cannabinoids. We are very glad we went with HPLC as our testing modality. We also have a GC-MS on site now, and are starting to compare the two.

Please check us out and get in touch through the website if you would like to have some testing done.


Thanks everyone,

Veta.

 

[pikes peak 69]

Last time I looked on your site the testing fee was 120-140.00. Is that still the case? I just looked and I don't see any prices listed.
If I want to check Tincture, raw material and butter.

pp69

 

[veta]

pricing for a single test iss 120, and that is through the lab. Local resellers will be selling them for 60 dollars and up. (A reselller is some one that buys 40 tests in bulk and then can sell them for any price they feel is fair.) In bulk the tests are 60$. If there is not a reseller in your area, contact betty and see about a sales rep contacting you.

 

[sac beh]

veta, are you able to give a list of dispensaries using your testing/certification services? Any CO patients have experience with their dispensaries using these services?

 

[alphaguru]

check his website but I believe so far it is only greenmtn care

 

[Ms_Weekend]

highlands health & 420 highways also do the test

just sent some in myself

 

[HappyDog]

fantastic to see the next step in quality control. patients should demand the stamp of approval in anything claimed to be organic.
keep up the good work.